Psych 4 Test- Yui Hisanaga

What are the 3 summary statements about the sequence of puberty?

1. Internal growth before external

2. Similar sequence for males/females

3. Menarche DOES NOT equal reproduction function. (first cycles are usually anovulatory)

Where does menarche fall in the sequence for females? (beginning, middle, or end?)

Middle

(recall) What are the 2 “funny” types of development during growth spurt?

1. Distal-Proximal: far to near

2. Asymmetrical (one side can’t keep up with another, eg. really long hands or toes)

What are the nature and nurture influences on the timing of puberty?

What is the main idea here?

(recall) one that moves us earlier and one that moves us later.

Main idea: Environment influences within genetic boundaries

Nurture:

Calories since conception and Excessive Exercise
Father figure at home.

Moves us earlier: Living with a nonbiological father.

Moves us later: Living with a biological father.

(recall) What is the #1 best nurture predictor?

Calories since conception: hastens genetic behaviors

What are the 2 cognitive implications of puberty? *hit hint

1. Better brain: less plasticity means more efficiency

2. “Night owl” circadian rhythm: limited learning in morning classes

What are the gender differences in male and females’ social experience of puberty regarding the 2 domains of relationships and body concepts?

Relationships (Domain):

Males: “Growing up” means that respect from parents and peers.

Females: Sexual capacity means worry from parents, and harassment from peers

Body Concept:

Males: Grows into cultural ideals

Females: Grows into cultural deals

What are the 2 groups most off time regarding puberty?

1. Early females

2. Late males

What is the group most at risk and 4 reasons why? (in puberty)

Most at risk: Early Females

1. Inadequate preparation

2. Social withdrawal

3. Targeted by media (risk for internalizing disorders like depression, anorexia)

4. Life long consequences of early sex

What is the silver lining regarding timing of puberty (for some)?

Silver Lining: timing of puberty stress can produce better adult coping (for some)

Is early puberty by itself a risk factor for delinquency? Is early puberty by itself a risk for females?

Early puberty by itself is NOT a risk factor for delinquency. (it has to be combined with pre-existing behavior problems: ie. hanging out with the wrong group of friends.

Early puberty by itself may be a risk for females for internalizing disorders (depression, eating disorders, etc)

What is PAB? What is the paradox (i.e. the 2 facts that seem odd together?) What’s an example?

PAB: Paradoxical Adolescent Brain

Good academic reasoning + poor social reasoning

Example: Teens who can compute seat-belt death statistics do not wear a seat belt.

(recall) What physiological process is happening in the academic areas (attention, working memory)?

Myelination (round 2)

(recall) What physiological process is happening in the social areas? What lobe especially?

Bursting and pruning cycles (round 2)

Frontal lobe and other areas of the brain related to social reasoning

(recall) When is the brain basically done developing?

Early 20’s

Harvard faces study: What emotions did the 16 year old have difficult identifying? What lobe was not very active?

They had difficult identifying the emotion of fear.

The frontal lobe was not very active

(IV on handout)

In adolescence, we gain “new skills” in academic-type reasoning. Thus, Piaget says that we are no longer hostage to the concrete world. Because of this, formal operations is permitted. What does this mean?

Formal Operations: “if/then” thinking”

For example, if you ask a 7-11 year old, “if mice are bigger than dogs and dogs are bigger than an elephant, are mice bigger than an elephant?” they would say “no” because they are held hostage to the concrete world.

However, teens could answer yes, because their thinking is independent of the reality.

What is the # of slots in working memory for most adolescents?

5-6 slots

What is systematic problem solving, and an example?

Systemic Problem Solving:

Having a system of creating something instead of just doing random system or things.

eg. making smoke

What skill is largely gained also in IP theory that are permitted by the increase in slots?

Metacognition: thinking about thinking

What are the skills/attributes not typically seen until adolescence?

1. Complex math/science methodologies

2. Evaluation of logical arguments (evaluating an argument with many points is weak or strong)

3. Capacity for nonliteral God/texts

4. Appreciation for grace-based salvation (rather than believing that a good God does/must reciprocate human effort/intentions)

For children aged 7-11, how do they view God? What are they bound to? How is God viewed?

1. Literal

2. Mechanistic (God turns on rain switches)

3. Super fair (bound by the Social Reciprocity Norm)

eg. “I’m good, God lets me into Heaven.” or, “Grandma died of cancer. Did grandma do something bad?”

God is scrutinized using concrete reasoning. eg. can’t understand how God can be in everything if you can’t see it, etc.

Which is a better predictor of reasoning skills from late adolescence until old age: maturation or experience?

Experience

Which basic logic skill permits more realistic assessments in late adolescence? What does it lead to ie. what’s it risk?

More realistic assessments of bad situations, which are permitted by better (if/then thinking)

eg. in social situations

Risk: depression and suicide if we recognize that no solutions are good.

(recall at least one) 2 ways that early adolescents think like preschoolers specifically identified on the handout

1. Intolerant, rigid categories: categories are more abstract. eg. being rigid about political parties.

2. Obsessive self-awareness: adolescent egocentrism. (finding yourself really riveting and can’t even comprehend that others have thought of that.) eg. “you don’t even know what it’s like”

What is imaginary audience? What is the benefit and risk? (part of obsessive self-awareness in early adolescence)

Conveying in your mind that there is people watching you all the time, even in bedroom.

Benefit: Self Improvement: some imaginary audience is good, eg. cookie crumbs

Risk: Vulnerability to peer and media pressure, self criticism.

What is terminal thinking? (apart of 4. Here and now orientation)

Emphasizing short-term consequences, esp. for kids with little hope for future.

End of thinking: eg. not denying gratification for sex, if growing up in a family that don’t value a career or college or even finishing high school, just ending your thinking there.

This leads to risky behavior and bad choices.

(recall) What is the earliest age that a person can receive the death sentence in the US?

18

What is the “whole package” faith/risks for adolescents with “simple truth” mentors?

“Whole Package” Faith: Those in supportive religious families tend to adopt parents’ religious beliefs uncritically along with other beliefs. Because they already love and trust the community.

“Simple Truth” Mentors: Can be a risk of cynicism because in adolescence, the truth becomes complex and unknowable, so a mentor who can acknowledge the “unknowable” can be beneficial.